Crate.



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CRATE. v APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1909.

UNT

n orion.

CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2d, 1911.

Application 'filed August 26, 1909. Serial No. 514,819.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY l). Bonor, a citizen of the United States, residing at Defiance, in the county of Deance and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Crate, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to crates or coops and the object is to provide a coop of cheap and simple construction which may be shipped in a knock-down condition and readily set up for use by the purchaser.

N ith this object in view the invention consists in constructing a coop of transverse frames and a wire and slat fabric which may be shipped in a Hat condition and may be readily drawn over the said transverse frames vand secured to the same so as to form the sides, top and bottom of the coop.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the coop set up for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Figs. 3 ande are detail perspective views Iof a portion. of one of the end frames. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one end of the feeding and watering trough.

In carrying out my invention, I employ two transverse end frames 1 which are constructed of a center post 2 and end posts 3 and longitudinal slats or bars 4 secured to the outer sides of the said posts. The ends of the end posts 3 and of the top and bottom bars 4 are made convex, as shown at 5, so that the Ycrate will have round corners to facilitate the application of the slatted fabric to the frames and also to provide ventif lating spaces between the coops when a number of the coops are placed together for the shipment of poultry. In order to reinforceA the ends of the crate and to guard against collapse of the same, l employ the braces 6 which are secured to the outer sides of the end posts 3 between the ends of the top and bottom bars 4t and iit against the ends of the intermediate bars 4, as clearly shown. It will also be noted that the ends of the posts are flush with the outer edges of the top and bottom bars 4 so that the posts not only carry the said bars but also aid in supporting the web. The crushing strain applied to the coop at the corners of the same will by this construction, be eii'ectually resisted and the strain `upon the nails or similar fastening devices employed to secure the longitudinal bars to the posts will be relieved.

The central transverse frame 7 consists of upper and lower horizontal bars S and posts 9 secured thereto, the corners of the frame thus constructed being made convex so as to correspond to the corners of the ends of the crate. This central frame constitutes a partition dividingthe coop into two compartments and a feeding and Watering trough 10 is secured to and extends between the end posts 9 of the same. The trough consists of a-metal plate folded longitudinally and having its ends crimped inward to lit around the inner edges of the posts whereby ears 11 are provided to bear against the sides of the posts and through which nails 1la or other fastening devices are inserted into the posts to secure the trough in position. The to bottom and sides of the coop are formed of a fabric consisting of slats 12 woven together by connecting wires 13, the fabric being of such size as to pass entirely under the end frames and the central partition,

Ythen up the opposite sides of thc same andv over the top so as to extend close to the center thereof. The use of thisfabric provides ample ventilation in the coop and also permits theparts to be shipped in a separated or knock-down condition, inasmuch as the ends and the partition may be placed one upon another to any desired height, limited only by the capacity of the car in which they are shipped and the top, bottom and sides may be spread out flat and likewise placed one upon another in thc car.

Upon reference to the drawings it will be noticed that the central portion of the fabric is woven closer than the end portions of the same and the bottom slats may be Wider than the top and side slats so that the slats in the bottom of the coop will be very close together and the necessary firm bottom provided. lcinforcing bars or slats 14 are scoured longitudinally upon the bottom portion of the fabric and similar bars or slats 15 are secured upon the ends of theI same, these bars 14 and 15 serving not only to reinforce the structi'ure but also to act as runners upon which the coop may be moved and also as guards to protect'the wires against wear and therebv rolon 7 the life fP e of the coop. These bars rthermore prevent the ends of the wires scratching or v 2 v .t 1,006,905

tearing the hands of the persons handling the coop, and also hold the Wires in place when one coop is drawn over another.

The transverse frames are provided with notches 16 in their .upper edges at their centers and in the said notches is mounted a slide 17 which constitutes a door for the coop, the said slide being held Within the notches by keepers 18 secured upon the edges of the frames and extending over the slide and the notches. A latch 19 is provided on the side ofthe partition and is adapted to engage an opening or socket 2O in the slide and thereby hold the slide in position to close the coop.- The latch is formed on or carried by a spring 21 having one end secured to the partition and having its free endheld to the partition by a keeper 22 thereon as will be readily understood. The spring is provided With a lateral projection or handle 23 near its free end so that by pressing uponthe said lug'or handle the latch may be disengaged from the slide which mayA then be moved longitudinally to permit access to the crate. The slide may be arranged on the side of the crate and such arrangement Will permit access to the crate when other crates are piled upon it.

simp e construction and may be readily set up for use, it being necessary only to support the partition and the ends in theirI proper positions and then pass the slat and wire fabric around the edges of the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and secure the said fabric 'to the ends and the partition by any convenient fastening devices, as Will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is v A crate comprising a frame including oppositely disposed intermediate osts, and a trough consisting of a length o sheet metal having its ends crimped inward to provide ears that are disposed on opposite sides of the posts, and to Which they are secured, the trough serving as a means for reinforcing the structure against transverse yielding.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWnI have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

" HENRY D. BOKOP.

Witnesses:

AUG. B. Firr, JULIUS J. BLAIR. 

